THE Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, said yesterday she wanted, to create a system whereby annual amendments could be made to the criminal law which had become out dated and outmoded. She was speaking at the Committee stage of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 1996.

The Bill amends the law relating to certain matters of criminal procedure to speed up the processing of matters in the courts and to reduce the amount of time spent by gardai in court and on court related duties.

It also extends the maximum period for which a person may be remanded in custody and provides for the issue of search warrants for specified offences.

Mrs Owen said she wanted to create a system where an annual Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill could be introduced. She hoped there would be a similar type of legislation in 1997 to fill in more amendments in the criminal law to cope with changes.

The Select Committee on Legislation and Security passed an amendment giving the Minister the power to make prison rules and regulations which would ensure that prisons were administered efficiently.